Delaware AG office to investigate land deal
NKS Distributors had a 66 year deal for a piece of state land near Milford. The AG’s office is checking to see if that was just a typo.
The Delaware state land deal that came to light during a court battle with the family who runs N.K.S Distributors will now be investigated by Attorney General Beau Biden’s office.
State Representative Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley) first called for an investigation in a letter to the Attorney General in May. Deputy Attorney General Charles Butler confirmed the investigation on Thursday in a response back to Lavelle.
Lavelle said he was glad the Attorney General shares his concern over the aspects of the deal. However, he questions a part of the letter where Butler writes the 66 year agreement appears to be a typographical error. Lavelle questions who was looking over the agreement at DelDOT and the AG’s office and why no one caught that mistake. He also questions why Christopher Tigani wouldn’t point out the discrepancy.
Butler’s letter to Lavelle suggests the lease deal was for 5 years with a renew clause that would run for 10 additional years. Lavelle hasn’t decided how he’ll respond to the letter. He says while he personally likes DelDOT head Carolyn Wicks, he thinks this matter ranks up there with another DelDOT mistake, the Indian River Inlet bridge. Lavelle asked in 2008 why the first design on that new bridge failed. He was told he would get an answer in 6 months. He says he’s still waiting for that.
The News Journal first reported on the land deal for a 10.3 acre tract of land in Milford. The deal allowed N.K.S Distributors to build a warehouse. The deal has raised questions whether there was something inapporpriate done by members of the Ruth Ann Minner administration. Minner has been quoted as saying her interest in the project was done in the name of economic development. She did acknowledge a friendship with Christopher Tigiani of N.K.S.
View copies of the Charles Butler response, and the Appraisal of Milford land documents.
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